6th Edition (Magic: The Gathering)

Fifth Edition

(Symbol used in Simplified Chinese printing of Fifth Edition only)
Released	March 1997
Size	449 cards (166 commons, 130 uncommons, 133 rares, 20 basic lands)
Developers	Mark Rosewater, Skaff Elias, Robert Gutschera
Expansion code	5ED
← Visions Portal →

6th Edition (Classic)

Roman numeral 6
Released	April 27, 1999
Size	350 cards (110 commons, 110 uncommons, 110 rares, 20 basic lands)
Expansion code	6ED
← Urza's Legacy Urza's Destiny →

Seventh Edition

The Number 7
Released	April 2, 2001
Size	350 cards (110 commons, 110 uncommons, 110 rares, 20 basic lands)
Expansion code	7ED
← Planeshift Apocalypse →

Ninth Edition

The number nine superimposed over a trio of fanned cards
Released	July 29, 2005 [1]
Size	359 (110 rares, 110 uncommons, 110 commons, 20 lands, 9 starter)
Keywords	Aura
← Saviors of Kamigawa Ravnica: City of Guilds →

Tenth Edition

Tenth Edition expansion symbol (X, Roman numeral for 10)
Released	July 13, 2007
Size	383 (121 rares, 121 uncommons, 121 commons, 20 basic land)
← Future Sight Lorwyn →

The collectible card game Magic: The Gathering published nine core sets from 1993–2007, also referred to as basic sets and base sets. These sets consisted entirely of reprints, usually focusing on staple cards Wizards of the Coast felt should always be available. These cards were generally simpler than cards in expansion sets, omitting multicolored cards, and used only the original abilities and keywords of Magic such as Flying, Trample and Haste. As Magic grew, the base sets were considered descendants of the original Limited Edition, and shaped the default setting and feel of Magic. In contrast, Magic "expansion sets" usually chose a particular theme, such as artifacts for Antiquities. All cards were given a white border to mark them as reprints, with a few exceptions (Tenth Edition, foil cards in Seventh-Ninth Editions). From Fourth Edition in 1995 onward, a new base set would come out once per two years in the spring or early summer; for tournament play, that set would be legal for two years in the Standard format until the next core set replaced it.

Early in the history of Magic, the sets sold out nearly instantaneously, and supplying the game's growing fan base proved tricky. Sales were also concentrated on the West Coast of the United States, where Wizards of the Coast was based. The earliest base sets—Unlimited, Revised, and Fourth Edition—helped provide the first experience with Magic for many players in areas where Magic had never been sold before, enabling them to catch up on the base game with cards that, while technically reprints, had never been available to them before. As the market became saturated, the base sets took on a changed role; they began to be marketed as the entry way for new Magic players, with less interest expected from dedicated Magic players who likely owned many of the cards already. Seventh Edition, released in 2001, was sold both as a "Basic" and an "Advanced" product, with the expansion sets of the time marked as "Expert." Eighth and Ninth editions were marketed similarly. However, sales were disappointing, an alarming problem for Wizards, as some entry point for newer players was required to keep Magic alive. In 2009, Wizards of the Coast changed their policy for core sets, and began making smaller core sets that included new cards, starting with the Magic 2010 set. According to Wizards of the Coast, the previous core sets had "been completely marginalized by the enfranchised player base", and change was required to make the Core Sets of interest to players of all skill levels once more.